General Information
Apriums have the initial appearance of a small deep rose-hued apricot, a physical trait inherited from its plum parentage. It skin is covered with a near translucent fuzz which the fruit inherited from its other parent, the apricot. The fruit’s flesh, when ripe, is sweet forward with a bright and tart finishing mouthful. The flesh is also more comparable to a plum with layers of juice that make the fruit’s consistency delicious when just ripe, yet mealy when overly matured. Apriums are classified as a “climacteric fruit”, meaning the fruit continues to ripen after picking.
History
Apriums were developed in the late 1980s by Floyd Zaiger of Zaiger Genetics, in Modesto, California. In fact, Aprium is a federally registered trademark for the name of the fruit and the process by which it is grown. Genetically, the Aprium’s parentage is 25% plum and 75% apricot. The process of hybridization includes the method of pollen to seed-bearing stock. Rootstock plays an essential role in the development of new varieties. They are used for grafting the cutting or budding of other plants. The rootstock named Citation, a peach/plum hybrid, is the standard rootstock for aprium trees.
